The following days passed in a whirlwind of emotions and glances. Diego seemed to enjoy challenging me more and more, and his stares cut through the air like sharp blades. He didn't even bother hiding his contempt, and no matter how much I tried to stay calm, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.But there was something else—something growing inside me. A strange sensation that this wasn't just about him anymore. It was about me.
That morning, while getting ready for another day, my mind was too distracted to notice the small details. Marina's smile, the conversation we'd have later, the tension in the air… I was starting to feel different, like something was about to happen. And when I arrived at college, my gut feeling proved right.
— Felipe, do you have a minute? — Marina's voice came from behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I turned quickly, surprised to see her there with that warm smile. There was no sign that the cafeteria scene had been awkward for her. I was still trying to process it all when she gently pulled me toward the hallway.
— About the Literature assignment… I was thinking about analyzing the representation of power in classic stories. What do you think? — she asked, looking straight into my eyes.
I didn't know what to say. I hadn't expected the conversation to be so simple, so… normal. There was no tension in the air, which made me relax a bit. Maybe I had been overthinking everything. I knew she was smart, but now I was starting to realize she was much more than just beauty and intelligence. She seemed genuine.
— Sounds great — I replied, trying not to stutter. — I can help you with that.
She smiled and started walking, motioning for me to follow her.
— Let's go to the library? We can get a head start after class. I just need to grab some books.
And just like that, we went back to routine. But soon, the twist I feared—and at the same time, longed for—happened.
After class, while Marina and I were discussing the assignment, the library door suddenly swung open. I froze when I saw who it was.
Diego.
He had that smug grin of someone who thinks he's in control. The moment I saw him, my mind started racing. What did he want now?
— Well, well… look who we have here — Diego said, voice dripping with mockery. — Felipinho and the college princess, all alone in the library. I wonder what's going on between you two, huh?
My stomach twisted, and before I could say anything, Marina responded—calmly, as if she had expected it.
— Don't be childish, Diego. We're just studying.
Diego looked at her with his usual smirk, but his eyes were locked on me.
— Oh, sure. Studying… — he chuckled. — I just hope, Felipinho, you know that if you get too close to Marina, you'll have to pass my little test.
The air grew heavy. I knew exactly what he meant. He wasn't just provoking me — he was making it clear that, in some twisted way, Marina was his territory. It was a strategic move to pull me into his trap. But what bothered me most was his tone, as if he were absolutely sure I couldn't stand up to him.
Marina paused for a moment, as if analyzing the situation. Then, with impressive calm, she said:
— Do you really think someone needs to be tested by you, Diego? That sounds more like a joke than a challenge. And as for you, Felipinho, don't listen to anything he says. — She glanced at Diego and added — I'm not anyone's toy.
I didn't know what to expect, but what happened next caught everyone off guard — even me.
Diego, who was always the center of attention, went silent. For a second, he seemed lost, unsure of how to react to Marina's direct response. And to my surprise, he did nothing. He just turned around and walked out without saying a word. As if he'd been disarmed by something he never saw coming.
I stared at Marina, still trying to process everything that had just happened. Not only had she defended me — she'd left Diego speechless. She looked at me with a gentle smile.
— You saw what he was trying to do, right? — she asked, still calm. — Diego's just a jerk trying to show off. You don't have to worry about him.
I didn't know whether to feel relieved or shocked. Deep down, I knew Marina was different — but I never imagined she was this strong. She didn't just confront Diego — she showed me that I didn't have to be afraid of him.
— I… I don't even know what to say — I muttered, still in shock.
Marina smiled again.
— You don't have to say anything. Just stop giving him attention. He's going to try dragging you into his game, but if you don't play… he'll get bored eventually.
I looked at her, thinking about how much had changed. I was beginning to understand that, even though Diego was a threat on campus, he didn't have as much power as he thought. And Marina… she wasn't just beautiful and smart. She was so much more.
But even as everything seemed to settle down, one thought still echoed in my mind:
If Diego was trying to test me… what else was he planning?
I knew he wouldn't give up that easily.
The real battle was just beginning.